Variation in juvenile growth and wood properties in half-sib cottonwood families

Abstract

Maximum early gains in the genetic improvement of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) in the lower Mississippi Valley are most likely to be achieved through identification and commercial vegetative propagation of superior genotypes. A relatively simple improvement program having this goal might include evaluation of progeny from phenotypically superior mother-trees followed by clonal tests of outstanding juvenile phenotypes selected from progeny. Such an approach is being used in the first phase of the cottonwood improvement program at the Southern Forest Experiment Station. This paper describes a short-term one-parent progeny test conducted under nursery conditions to provide data on juvenile variation.

Parent Publication

• Joint proceedings, Second Genetics Workshop of the Society of American Foresters and Seventh Lake States Forest Tree Improvement Conference, October 21-23, 1965.

Citation

Farmer, R.E., Jr.; Wilcox, J.R. 1966. Variation in juvenile growth and wood properties in half-sib cottonwood families. In: Joint Proceedings of the Second Genetics Workshop of the Society of American Foresters and the Seventh Lake States Forest Tree Improvement Conference; Res. Pap. NC-6. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 1-4